Pakistan: Selected Issues
IMF Staff Country Reports, July 13, 2017
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- Pakistan: Selected Issues
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Bibliographic details
- Published: July 13, 2017
- Series: IMF Staff Country Reports
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781484309766.002
Overview and Key Findings
- The paper provides an overview of social safety nets (SSNs) in Pakistan and uses a frontier analysis approach to assess their efficiency in reducing poverty and inequality.
- SSNs in Pakistan were significantly strengthened over time but remain small against regional and emerging markets’ averages.
- The analysis suggests that stepping up public expenditure in SSNs is needed to alleviate still high poverty and inequality.
Policy Recommendations
- Finalize the update of the Benazir Income Support Program beneficiaries’ database.
- Broaden coverage of the Benazir Income Support Program.
- Step up educational transfers.
- Continue energy subsidies reform to create fiscal space to strengthen SSNs and priority social spending.
Analytical Approach and Scope
- Methodology: frontier analysis approach to assess SSNs’ efficiency in reducing poverty and inequality.
- Focus areas: social safety nets, poverty reduction, inequality, fiscal space from energy subsidy reform.
- Subject tags included in the source: Economic sectors; Expenditure; Financial inclusion; Financial markets; Financial sector; Financial sector development; Social assistance spending.
- Keywords included in the source: Asia and Pacific; cash transfer; China-Pakistan Economic Corridor; CPEC project; CR; federal government; Financial inclusion; Financial sector; Financial sector development; Global; government; investment plan; ISCR; NFC Award; Pakistan; Pakistan Pakistan authorities; poverty; Social assistance spending; South Asia.